Ballinrobe's new grandstand, ready in time for the two-days July fixture, will be officially opened this evening by Denis Brosnan, chairman of the Irish Horse Racing Authority.
If Lear White shows any capacity for hurdling, this could be the first winner that race-goers will see in action. He won eight races at Rome when trained in Italy.
When he came to England to Paul Kelleway two years ago, he was in the frame in seven Group races, including the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, but his temperament has gone against him since. A course of hurdling could be just the thing to put that right.
John Oxx and John Murtagh, enjoying a fine run, should provide the nap with Novian, bred to stay two miles in comfort.
Kevin Prendergast will be glad to get a race with the frequent runner-up Omy Dancer. He was the toast of the ring at Leopardstown on Saturday when his filly, Hasanat, upset some major wagers on Pasternak in the Golden Pages Handicap.
The run of Blue Lotus in the £120,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on Saturday was an advertisement for the smartness of the Irish two-year-olds. He has not been able to win a maiden on the provincial circuit and yet now finished a close fourth to the unbeaten Flanders, who had previously won at Royal Ascot.
If the draws of Blue Lotus (4) and Flanders (18) had been switched, it would have been a very close run thing, for Blue Lotus hung a ll the way across the course and actually finished the far side of the winner.
Paul Cole's Strike A Blow proved a bloodless winner of the Listed Premio Giuseppe de Montel at San Siro, Milan, yesterday. Carlo Fiocchi deputised for the injured Richard Quinn. The British juvenile quickened five lengths clear of Canaima in the extended seven furlongs race.
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